Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek payment of agrimonetary compensation for the sheep sector; whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that such compensation should be made available, and how much agrimonetary compensation is estimated to be available on application by Her Majesty's Government.

Ross Finnie: The European Commission have yet to confirm whether there is any agrimonetary compensation available to the sheep sector. Although this aid relates to the second and third stages of compensation paid last year, the EU agrimonetary rules provide for these later payments to be reduced or cancelled if the market prices and exchange rates have since moved in a direction which ameliorates the situation which led to the initial compensation. We will not know for some months what the commission assessment will be. When we do find out how much, if any, agrimonetary aid is available we will carefully consider the case for payment and make the appropriate representations to Her Majesty's Government.

Air Services

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the British Airports Authority regarding passenger numbers and the number of direct routes from Aberdeen and the authority’s other airports in Scotland and what the outcome was of any such discussions.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive meets BAA on a regular basis to discuss a range of aviation matters including passenger numbers and air links serving Scotland. The Executive, in partnership with the Enterprise Networks, VisitScotland and the airport operators, will continue to encourage the development of more commercial and cost effective air services from Scotland for the benefit of the travelling public and the Scottish economy.

Birds

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities on limiting damage and nuisance caused by seagulls.

Allan Wilson: The last meeting with local authority representatives to discuss this subject took place in September 2000. Policy in relation to problems caused by gulls is clear and well-established.

  Where a threat to public health or public safety exists, local authorities already have discretionary powers (under general licence SEGEN/10) to control herring gulls and greater and lesser black-backed gulls. In addition, action can be taken by local authorities to limit the availability of food in urban areas and to reduce the attractiveness of potential nesting and roosting sites.

Bridges

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been received from toll charges on the Erskine Bridge in each year since its construction.

Lewis Macdonald: The information is set out in the following table:

  


Year 
  

Tolls (£) 
  



1971-72 
  

194,775 
  



1972-73 
  

312,273 
  



1973-74 
  

359,570 
  



1974-75 
  

380,557 
  



1975-76 
  

417,495 
  



1976-77 
  

471,743 
  



1977-78 
  

524,666 
  



1978-79 
  

583,760 
  



1979-80 
  

525,059 
  



1980-81 
  

679,171 
  



1981-82 
  

843,467 
  



1982-83 
  

1,194,705 
  



1983-84 
  

1,257,592 
  



1984-85 
  

1,373,882 
  



1985-86 
  

1,394,421 
  



1986-87 
  

1,506,547 
  



1987-88 
  

1,627,605 
  



1988-89 
  

1,786,179 
  



1989-90 
  

2,360,403 
  



1990-91 
  

2,644,825 
  



1991-92 
  

2,814,503 
  



1992-93 
  

3,888,352 
  



1993-94 
  

4,042,217 
  



1994-95 
  

4,038,487 
  



1995-96 
  

4,288,113 
  



1996-97 
  

3,775,926 
  



1997-98 
  

4,373,916 
  



1998-99 
  

4,513,415 
  



1999-2000 
  

4,775,450

Bridges

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether toll bridge charges can be paid in euros.

Lewis Macdonald: Authorities at the four tolled bridges in Scotland are under no obligation to accept euros, or any other foreign currency, as payment for toll charges. However, I understand that euros have been accepted at Erskine, Skye and the Forth Road Bridges in exceptional cases.

Caledonian MacBrayne

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or plans to take, to ensure that disputes between the staff and management of Caledonian MacBrayne are resolved in such a way that they do not disrupt the services available to the public.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Executive officials kept in close touch with the company throughout the recent industrial dispute on the Clyde with the objective of ensuring that adequate lifeline ferry services were maintained. We also funded connecting bus services to help foot passengers use the sailings that the company continued to provide to Arran and Bute.

  We also encouraged continued dialogue between the company and the union concerned to try to resolve the dispute as soon as possible, while recognising that responsibility for resolving disputes with staff lay with the board and management of Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. We have made clear our view that the company and trade unions should work together to seek ways in which this type of disruption can be avoided in future.

Central Heating

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any proposals to extend eligibility under the Central Heating Installation Programme to householders in receipt of the Disability Living Allowance.

Iain Gray: We have said that if resources became available we will consider which other vulnerable groups should benefit from the programme.

Children's Panels

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions in each of the past three years the actions of directors of social services did not conform to the recommendations made by children’s panels.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.

  It is the statutory responsibility of the local authority to give effect to supervision requirements made by children’s hearings. If they are unable to do so, then they should bring the case back to the hearing for review.

Community Languages

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4475 by Iain Gray on 24 January 2002, what options it is currently considering to access more detailed information about the prevalence of ethnic community languages and when it will have new arrangements in place for this purpose.

Iain Gray: The Executive is working with a number of partner organisations to develop a clearer picture of community language use across Scotland as well as considering possible specific research or surveys. This is continuing work and there is currently no fixed timetable for its completion.

Community Service Orders

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether offenders who have been sentenced to undertake community service orders can be ordered to perform their sentence by collecting litter.

Dr Richard Simpson: Work placements for those sentenced to community service orders are designed to present a challenge to the offender and to enable the offender to make reparation to the community for the offence. Work undertaken can range from physically demanding outdoor environmental projects such as building countryside walkways or removing graffiti to placements providing assistance to the elderly or disabled. Selection of work placements for those subject to community service orders are governed by the National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice system. Whether it involves litter collection is a matter for the local authority to determine. In exercising their discretion in providing a range of placements local authorities are required to ensure that others are not deprived of paid employment.

DAKS Simpson

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress Partnership Action for Continuing Employment has made in re-training workers from DAKS Simpson or placing them in alternative employment.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The 90-day consultation period has not yet expired, but much progress has already been made. The local PACE team have already put in place a number of initiatives, including:

  Open days at the factory staffed by representatives of the Employment Service, Benefits Agency, Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire Council Economic Development and Money Matters Advice team;

  Presentations to the workforce by the PACE partnership;

  Jobshop on-site at DAKS staffed by the Employment Service and Benefits Agency staff and including full access to the ES computerised vacancy system; and

  Mini employer / training events on site.

DAKS Simpson

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent in helping workers from DAKS Simpson find other employment.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There is no separate monitoring or ring-fencing of expenditure by the various supporting agencies on a company basis.

DAKS Simpson

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to support the wider community in Larkhall in light of the forthcoming closure of DAKS Simpson.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an issue for South Lanarkshire Council in partnership with Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire. However, the Executive is providing funding of £16 million to deliver the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link, which includes a new station in Larkhall.

Dental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the results are of collaboration with the United Kingdom and European organisations in relation to planning and monitoring the dental workforce.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Dental workforce issues in Europe are complex with no workforce plans in some countries whilst others have sophisticated models which we are assessing. Scotland has led the way within the UK on dental workforce planning with the report Workforce Planning for Dentistry in Scotland . Following the report, Wales and Northern Ireland increased the numbers of dental student places funded by these devolved administrations, and a review is currently under way in England.

Dental Health

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many general dental practitioners in Lothian have closed their patient lists.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. As independent contractors dentists can choose whether to treat individual patients, and some will only treat adult fee-paying patients privately.

Dental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date figures are for recorded incidence of dental fluorosis in (a) fluoridated and (b) non-fluoridated areas.

Malcolm Chisholm: A study of caries and fluorosis prevalence of schoolchildren in naturally fluoridated and non-fluoridated townships of Morayshire recorded incidences of dental fluorosis at (a) 7 % in fluoridated areas and (b) 3% in non-fluoridated areas.

Dental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the proposals for the establishment of drop-in centres in the major cities and the enhanced use of mobile services for access to dentistry, as outlined in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland .

Malcolm Chisholm: In line with the recommendations in the dental action plan and under the premises modernisation programme we have recently approved an application for capital funding for the consolidation of emergency dental services in Edinburgh. The proposals for the revised service include a drop-in facility for patients. We are continuing to review the position on such services, including mobile services, with NHS boards.

Dental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the fee structure for specialist treatments such as orthodontics and sedation will be published and implemented, as recommended in the Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland .

Malcolm Chisholm: The narrative and fees for sedation and for orthodontics, contained in the Statement of Dental Remuneration, have been reviewed to increase patient safety.

  Amendment Number 78 to the statement lists the revised narrative for fees related to orthodontics. It took effect on 1 April 2001.

  Amendment Number 79 lists the revised narrative and fees for sedation and a new narrative and fee related to copying of radiographs by dentists accepting orthodontic referrals. The amendment took effect on 13 August 2001.

  The Executive continues to review the delivery of orthodontics and sedation.

Emergency Planning

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what directions have been given to Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority regarding security measures since 11 September 2001, by whom, and why any such directions were given.

Lewis Macdonald: Security and safety are reserved matters. It is not our policy to disclose details of security measures.

Enterprise

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes were of the work of the Manufacturing Image Group.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Manufacturing Image Group identified that one way to ensure that manufacturing has a bright future in our economy is to encourage our young people to become involved. In view of this they recommended that a campaign targeted at S2 pupils was the way to show how diverse and interesting manufacturing is today. The campaign, Make it in Scotland was successfully piloted in East Ayrshire last year and has been extended to the whole of Ayrshire, Glasgow and Angus this year.

Expenditure

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost will be to the NHS in 2002-03 of the increased rates of employers’ National Insurance Contributions.

Malcolm Chisholm: The actual cost of employer’s National Insurance Contributions is dependent on the staff mix within each NHS board. The overall costs are not held centrally but will be available from each NHS board.

  The cost of employer’s National Insurance Contributions will be met from NHS board’s unified budgets which are to increase by 7.2% on average in 2002-03.

Ferry Services

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what ferry service arrangements for passengers, freight and livestock between Orkney and Shetland and the mainland will be in place between 1 March and 1 October 2002.

Lewis Macdonald: P&O Scottish Ferries have stated publicly their willingness to continue operating the existing service for the extension period from 1 April to 30 September 2002 and I welcome that commitment.

  We have had extensive discussions with P&O Scottish Ferries on the full range of issues relating to the proposed contract extension. These talks are continuing and both parties recognise the need to clarify the remaining outstanding points as soon as possible.

Health

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has produced guidance to health boards on prescribing anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha drugs for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Malcolm Chisholm: Health boards determine their prescribing policy on new medicines, taking into account local needs and advice from their Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee. The Scottish Medicines Consortium will provide a single Scottish source of advice to local Area Drug and Therapeutics Committees. In addition, some new medicines will be evaluated by the Health Technology Board for Scotland. The advice of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is also made available publicly.

Housing

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-20928 by Ms Margaret Curran on 7 January 2002, how much development funding to assist with the provision of affordable housing in Edinburgh was made available in each year since 1996-97, and will be made available in 2002-03, and whether it will give a breakdown of the source of this funding and of the recipients.

Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table sets out the development funding made available through Scottish Homes, and now Communities Scotland, for the provision of affordable housing in the City of Edinburgh for the years in question. Development funding is provided through grant in aid funding from the Scottish Executive.

  


Year 
  

Development Funding for housing for social 
  rent 
  

Development funding for housing for low 
  cost home ownership 
  

Total 
  



£ million 
  

£ million 
  

£ million 
  



1996-1997 
  

24.0 
  

2.4 
  

26.4 
  



1997-1998 
  

14.5 
  

2.3 
  

16.8 
  



1998-1999 
  

15.3 
  

2.7 
  

18.0 
  



1999-2000 
  

14.6 
  

3.3 
  

17.9 
  



2000-2001 
  

15.1 
  

2.1 
  

17.2 
  



2001-20021


13.1 
  

0.7 
  

13.8 
  



2002-2003 
  

TBC 
  

TBC 
  

TBC 
  



  Note:

  1. Estimate.

Justice

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report on its review of the diligence system will be available for consultation.

Mr Jim Wallace: The work on the review of the law of diligence is almost complete and the Executive hopes to publish a consultation paper within the course of the next few weeks.

Justice

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the number of additional disposals which could be made available if the age of criminal responsibility was altered as set out in the recent report of the Scottish Law Commission Age of Criminal Responsibility.

Mr Jim Wallace: Implementation of the Scottish Law Commission’s recommendations would not lead to any significant difference in the number of children dealt with by the children’s hearings system. The recommendations would prevent prosecution of children aged eight to 11 inclusive in the criminal courts, but the Commission’s report showed that there were only 11 such prosecutions between 1994 and 1999. There are no recommendations in the report to change the disposals available to the courts in dealing with offenders or the measures available to the children’s hearings to deal with children referred on offence grounds.

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses received to its consultation on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill expressed an opinion relating to section 9(2)(a) of the bill and, of these, how many (a) supported and (b) opposed the inclusion of this provision in the bill.

Ross Finnie: The provision set out in section 9(2)(a) of the bill did not form part of the consultation draft of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. The decision to include section 9(2)(a) was taken in response to arguments advanced by 151 respondents to the consultation on the draft bill, who considered that access rights should not extend to commercial activities. There were four respondents who were in support of commercial activities being included in access rights.

Livestock

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the new system of cassettes for the transport of livestock will be operational following its £100,000 grant to NorthLink Ferries Ltd.

Lewis Macdonald: The grant that has been provided will enable NorthLink to finalise the design of the cassette system. NorthLink is currently developing proposals for the purchase and operation of cassettes involving a third party, including arrangements for the lease of cassettes to other operators wishing to use them to carry livestock.

  Subject to the completion of all relevant preparations, I understand that NorthLink expects to have the cassettes operational from September 2002.

Livestock

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans it has for the transport of livestock between Orkney and Shetland and the mainland, if the proposed cassette system is not operational by 1 October 2002.

Lewis Macdonald: We share the livestock industry’s interest in contingency plans. We plan to work with NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Limited, the local authorities and farming interests to ensure that adequate fallback arrangements are in place.

Livestock

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs will be to local authorities in 2002-03 of the increased rates of employers’ National Insurance Contributions.

Peter Peacock: We do not make separate estimates for the wide range of individual factors that might impact on local authority expenditure levels. The actual costs of National Insurance Contributions by local authority employers will depend, in part, on local policy choices about staffing levels, etc.

Local Government Expenditure

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any guidance it issues to local authorities concerning the awarding of grants to outside bodies and organisations.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive expects local authorities to have regard to the Code of Guidance on Funding External Bodies and Following the Public Pound issued jointly by the Accounts Commission for Scotland and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. The Executive also issues advice from time to time on the terms and conditions governing the awarding of grants under specific initiatives.

Ministers

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the Minister or Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning to visit Moray and, if a visit is planned, whom the Minister or Deputy Minister will meet.

Lewis Macdonald: No invitation has been received and there are no immediate no plans to visit Moray.

NHS Spending

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7259 by Susan Deacon on 22 June 2000, what further information can be provided concerning total and per capita health expenditure in the Greater Glasgow NHS board area over each of the last five years and whether such information can be disaggregated to show the expenditure within Clydebank and Milngavie.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table updates the information which was supplied in answer to question S1W-7259 on 22 June 2000. Information for Clydebank and Milngavie is not separately identified in the annual accounts but may be available from Greater Glasgow Health Board or the local NHS trusts.

  Greater Glasgow Health Board has maintained a steady rise in total and per capita revenue expenditure over the last six years.

  


Greater Glasgow Health Board 
  

Audit Figure 
  

Original 
  



2000-2001 
  

1999-2000 
  

1999-2000 
  

1998-99 
  

1997-98 
  

1996-97 
  

1995-96 
  



 


 


000's 
  

000's 
  

000's 
  

000's 
  

000's 
  



Base Population 
  

904.4 
  

902.3 
  

902.3 
  

902.3 
  

902.4 
  

907.0 
  

896.3 
  



Revenue Expenditure 
  

£985,332 
  

£916,173 
  

£920,978 
  

£875,474 
  

£849,122 
  

£823,760 
  

£802,648 
  



Revenue Per Capita Expenditure 
  

£1,090 
  

£1,015 
  

£1,021 
  

£970 
  

£941 
  

£908 
  

£896 
  



  The original figures for 1999-2000 were provided by Greater Glasgow Health Board and were unaudited figures. The audited figures have also now been included.

NHS Staff

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether in 1999 staffed bed rates in (a) all acute specialities and (b) acute surgical specialities in Lothian Health Board hospitals were below the national averages and, if so, by how much expressed as a percentage.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows the number of beds per 1,000 population in each health board area in 1999. It is not meaningful to make comparisons between individual boards, because these figures do not take account of differences in the underlying healthcare needs of the population living in different health board areas, nor do they take account of the extent to which hospitals in one area may treat patients from neighbouring health board areas.

  Table 1

  NHSiS - Average available staffed beds1; by health board of treatment; Year ending 31 December 1999, rate per 1,000 population

  


 


Acute Specialties2


Acute Surgical Specialties 
  



Scotland 
  

3.3 
  

1.3 
  



Argyll & Clyde 
  

3.1 
  

1.1 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

2.9 
  

1.1 
  



Borders 
  

2.6 
  

1.0 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

2.6 
  

1.1 
  



Fife 
  

2.3 
  

0.8 
  



Forth Valley 
  

2.7 
  

1.1 
  



Grampian 
  

3.2 
  

1.4 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

4.5 
  

1.8 
  



Highland 
  

3.7 
  

1.5 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

2.9 
  

1.2 
  



Lothian 
  

3.2 
  

1.1 
  



Orkney 
  

1.2 
  

1.2 
  



Shetland 
  

2.6 
  

1.1 
  



Tayside 
  

3.9 
  

1.5 
  



Western Isles 
  

4.9 
  

1.5 
  



  Notes:

  1. Includes NHS beds in joint-user and contractual hospitals.

  2. Includes acute surgical, acute medical beds and geriatric medicine excluding long stay.

NHS Waiting Times

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the target waiting time is for patients who have been referred to a hospital to receive information regarding their status on the waiting list.

Malcolm Chisholm: There is no national target waiting time for patients referred to hospital to receive details of their appointment with a consultant.

  The Electronic Clinical Communications Implementation Programme, which is currently being piloted, will support electronic booking of hospital appointments. This will enable patients, where appropriate, to receive details of their hospital outpatient appointment before leaving the GP surgery.

NHS Waiting Times

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average waiting times are for (a) extraction of wisdom teeth and (b) hernia operations in the NHS Forth Valley area and what the average waiting times were for each in each of the last two years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Patients requiring the extraction of wisdom teeth can be treated by a General Dental Practitioner or as a hospital outpatient or in-patient/day case. Information on waiting times for specific treatment carried out by General Dental Practitioners or at hospital outpatient clinics is not collected centrally.

  Information is collected centrally on the time between a patient being placed on the in-patient and day case waiting list and their admission to hospital for treatment. The median waiting times for the extraction of wisdom teeth and for hernia repair operations for NHS Forth Valley residents, for the years ending 30 September 2000 and 2001 are shown in the table.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times For In-patient/Day Case Treatment For The Extraction Of Wisdom Teeth And For Hernia Repair Operations, For NHS Forth Valley Residents: Years Ending 30 September 2000 and 2001P.

  


Years Ending 
  

Extraction of Wisdom Teeth
Median Wait (Days) 
  

Hernia Repair
Median Wait (Days) 
  



30 September 2000 
  

103 
  

100 
  



30 September 2001p


67p


138p




  Source: ISD Scotland (SMR01).

  P Provisional.

NHS Waiting Times

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde local authority areas waited more than 15 weeks to see a hospital consultant in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on waiting times is compiled centrally from data provided by hospitals and NHS trusts.

  In the years ending 30 September 2000 and 30 September 2001, the number of NHS Argyll and Clyde residents who waited longer than 15 weeks for a first outpatient appointment with a Consultant, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner or General Dental Practitioner were 13,494 and 13,290 respectively. These represent 16.1% and 17.5% of the total number of NHS Argyll and Clyde residents who attended a first outpatient consultant clinic, following such a referral, during these periods.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether anti-tumour necrosis drugs for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been assessed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Malcolm Chisholm: A technology appraisal of Etanercept and Infliximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is expected to be issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in March 2002.

Post Office

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Postal Services Commission in order to ensure the continued availability of postal services in rural areas in light of the commission’s proposals for opening the market for postal services.

Allan Wilson: Consignia, post offices and postal services are reserved matters.

  The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of the availability of postal services across Scotland. It is in regular contact with the Department of Trade & Industry and the Postal Services Commission on a range of issues.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies it has received each time such vacancies have been advertised in each of the past three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: A new system for recruiting independent assessors which involved seeking applicants from a wide range of backgrounds was introduced for the first time in 2001. Twenty-seven applications were received.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a commitment to cancel the appointments of the current team of Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies and initiate another selection process, based on the new procedures for their selection as set out by the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services on 15 January 2002 to the Local Government Committee, should these procedures be adopted.

Mr Andy Kerr: No. Each individual was appointed on merit. It will be for the Scottish Commissioner for Public Appointments, once in post, to determine when and how future independent assessors should be appointed and to evaluate on an ongoing basis the performance of all independent assessors.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the process by which each of the 12 new Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies announced by the Minister for Finance and Public Services on 29 January 2002 were appointed.

Mr Andy Kerr: Details of the open competition to fill Independent Assessor vacancies were announced in question S1W-16557 on 27 June 2001. Details were also contained in an Executive news release and published on the Executive’s website. In addition, letters inviting nominations for these posts were sent to over 100 organisations, including convenors of the Parliament’s subject committees.

  In total 60 information packs were issued and 27 applications received. An appointments panel sifted all applications against the criteria set out in the person specification and job description.

  19 applicants were invited to interview. Recommendations for appointments were made by the appointments panel to me. I made my decisions on the basis of the advice of the panel.

  The process followed was in accordance with the requirements of the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are currently appointed members of an NDPB under the responsibility of either it or Her Majesty’s Government.

Mr Andy Kerr: Five.

  Four of these sit on bodies sponsored by the Executive. These appointments were made prior to devolution. Following devolution, the commissioner’s advice was sought as to whether these four assessors could remain in post. Her view was that since they had been appointed to their posts under a different administration, there would be no conflict of interest in their overseeing appointments made by the Scottish ministers.

  One assessor sits on a body sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who have served in each of the past three years were also appointed members of an NDPB under the responsibility of either it or Her Majesty’s Government.

Mr Andy Kerr: In 1999, seven out of a total of 28 assessors held public appointments. In 2000, five out of a total of 16 held appointments and in 2001, four out of a total of 14.

  All those involved were appointed as assessors prior to devolution. Following devolution, the commissioner’s advice was sought as to whether these individuals could remain in post. Her view was that since they had been appointed to their posts under a different administration, there would be no conflict of interest in their overseeing appointments made by the Scottish ministers.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the 15 candidates who were rejected as Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies asked for an official explanation for their rejection.

Mr Andy Kerr: All those who were unsuccessful were offered an explanation for their rejection. They were also offered an opportunity to meet with officials to discuss the outcome of the panel’s deliberations.

  One candidate took up the offer of a meeting and three others were given verbal feedback by telephone.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it took from the closing date for applications to appoint the 12 new Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies.

Mr Andy Kerr: The closing date for applications was 31 July 2001. The appointments were announced on 29 January 2002. Ministerial changes last autumn contributed to the delay in final decisions being made.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive where the vacancies for Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies were advertised and on what dates.

Mr Andy Kerr: These posts were advertised on the Executive’s website between 27 June and 3 August 2001. In addition, letters inviting nominations were sent to over 100 organisations, including convenors of the Parliament’s subject committees, a PQ was tabled and a News Release issued.

Public Appointments

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used to select the successful candidates for the recent vacancies for Independent Assessors to oversee the ministerial appointments to non-departmental public bodies and who carried out the interviews.

Mr Andy Kerr: All applications received were sifted by an appointments panel, not by ministers, against the criteria set out in the person specification and job description. They were approved by the UK Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  Interviews were carried out by the appointments panel which comprised Dame Rennie Fritchie, UK Commissioner for Public Appointments (acting as Independent Assessor) and two civil servants.

  Job Description

  Job Title: Independent Assessor of the Public Appointments Process

  Main Duties:

  Play a full, visible and active part in the appointments process to ensure that the procedures employed by the Executive in making public appointments are transparent, fair and applied consistently to all candidates.

  Ensure that the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice for Public Appointments and the principles on which it is based are followed throughout the selection process in every case.

  As appropriate, to review the documented procedures relating to the selection of candidates before recommendations are put to ministers, or as part of a scrutiny panel established for individual appointments. As part of a scrutiny panel an Independent Assessor will be involved in shortlisting and interviewing candidates.

  Whenever necessary, to draw the attention of the selection panel or senior officials, the commissioner or the minister, to any shortcomings that arise during the appointments process.

  Recording the details of appointments in which you have played a part and retention of this record for at least one year after the appointment has been made to assist the commissioner in the investigations of any complaint that might be made about the way a particular appointment was made.

  Specific Objectives:

  To assist ministers in the task of making effective public appointments that command public confidence.

  To provide an assurance that the appointments process has conformed with the principles and practice set out in the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  To ensure that appointments are made on merit after fair, open and transparent process.

  Person Specification

  Necessary Skills

  Sound analytical skills

  Sound judgement

  Good written communication skills

  Good oral communication skills

  Able to express self assertively

  Interpretative skills

  Problem solving skills

  Be logical and possess common sense

  Desirable Skills

  Interviewing techniques

  Desirable Knowledge

  Recruitment and personnel management

  Policy and processes

  Equal opportunities legislation

  Appointment procedures

  Necessary Experience

  Team working

  Decision making

  Desirable Experience

  Committee work

  Resolving conflict

  Management responsibilities

  Office administration

  Record keeping

  Qualifications

  Formal academic qualifications are not necessary. Skills acquired through non-traditional employment patterns are also recognised.

Public Transport

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority or from the local authorities represented on it regarding funding and what responses it has given in each case.

Lewis Macdonald: SPT have welcomed the Executive’s decisions to increase capital allocations by 43% for the three years to 31 March 2004, to support through grant and borrowing consent the £23 million Larkhall to Milngavie rail projects and to provide £14 million from the 4th round of the Public Transport Fund to buy new, and refurbish existing, rolling stock. The Chair of the Authority and officials of the Executive have expressed concerns about the level of funding following re-organisation of local government in 1996. As to a response, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20916 on 18 February 2002.

Public Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions and criteria were set for (a) the use of and (b) the management of the funding awarded to the City of Edinburgh Council’s West of Edinburgh Busways project; what checks were in place to ensure that the funds were used and managed in accordance with such conditions and criteria; what timescales were established for the construction of the project; whether it indicated that funding could be withdrawn in circumstances whereby progress was not made on the construction of the project by a specified date, and what any such specified dates were

Lewis Macdonald: The conditions that apply to Public Transport Fund projects starting in 2002-03 including City of Edinburgh Council's West of Edinburgh Busways project are set out in Circular DD3/2001. This is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 18647).

  City of Edinburgh Council expect that work on the project will commence in 2002-03 and estimate that it will be complete by the end of the 2004-05 financial year.

Rail Network

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Her Majesty’s Government, (b) Strathclyde Passenger Transport and (c) South Lanarkshire Council following the decision by Railtrack plc not to support the Larkhall to Milngavie rail extension.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is currently in discussions with interested parties to explore options for keeping the Larkhall to Milngavie rail extension project moving forward.

Rail Services

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to the Strategic Rail Authority concerning overcrowding on ScotRail services.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues including overcrowding on ScotRail services.

Residential Homes

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) residential and (b) nursing care homes were (i) opened and (ii) closed in the Renfrewshire local authority area in each of the last three years.

Malcolm Chisholm: In the Renfrewshire local authority area, (a) (i) two Residential Care Homes opened in 1999; and (ii) one home closed in 2001. (b) Information on openings and closures of Nursing Care Homes is not held centrally.

Roads

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of any additional costs to local authorities as a consequence of the privatisation of the trunk road maintenance contracts.

Lewis Macdonald: There has been no privatisation to the trunk road maintenance contracts. Bids were invited and received from both local authorities and private sector consortia in 1995, and again in 2000-01, in open tender competitions subject to EU procurement rules. The Scottish Executive makes no estimate of the consequences for any bidder of not being successful in any such tender competition.

Roads

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) gritters, (b) snow blowers and (c) items of other machinery were available for use on trunk roads in the Highland Council area on (i) 10 December 2001, (ii) 3 December 2001, (iii) 26 November 2001 and (iv) the same dates in 2000.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Executive records indicate that the number of vehicles available and dedicated for use on trunk roads in the Highland area on the dates requested are as follows:

  


Type / Date 
  

26 November 2001 
  

3 December 2001 
  

10 December 2001 
  



Snow plough vehicles 
  

31 
  

32 
  

32 
  



Glycol sprayers 
  

2 
  

3 
  

3 
  



Footway ploughs / vehicles 
  

7 
  

7 
  

7 
  



Snow blowers 
  

5 
  

5 
  

5 
  



Patrol vehicles 
  

2 
  

2 
  

2 
  



  Additional vehicles stationed elsewhere in the North West Unit were available for redeployment on the Highland network if required. 

  The North West Partnership Winter Plan of 2000-01 indicates the following vehicles were available for use on trunk and local roads. The tables are not directly comparable, as Highland plant was not dedicated to trunk roads.

  


Type 
  

Number




Snow plough vehicles 
  

48




Glycol sprayers 
  

2




Footway ploughs / vehicles 
  

Not Known




Snow blowers 
  

13




Patrol vehicles 
  

Not Known

Roads

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20814 by Lewis Macdonald on 21 December 2001, what the locations were of the traffic calming measures on the Ardrossan stretch of the A78 trunk road, including pedestrian refuges, nibbings, improved road markings and appropriate gateway signing, which have been carried out since January 1997, other than the pedestrian island and right turn lane at the North Crescent Road/Witches Linn Junction and the nibbings at the junction of Parkhouse Road/Loanhead Road.

Lewis Macdonald: These works were carried out under the previous trunk road contracts. The limited information available indicates that improved road markings were installed on Parkhouse Road as part of the A78/Sorbie Road Junction improvement in 1999.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve connections between Clydebank and the motorway network.

Lewis Macdonald: The main links between Clydebank and the motorway network are local roads and therefore the responsibility of Glasgow City and West Dunbartonshire Councils.

  On the strategic road network, the Executive plans to undertake major strengthening work to the deck of the Erskine Bridge to meet current loading requirements and to upgrade access to the main deck and towers for maintenance purposes. This scheme, which is expected to cost some £2.25 million plus VAT, will be undertaken in phases, beginning in summer 2002.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport will attend a public meeting in Badenoch and Strathspey in order to explain why BEAR Scotland Ltd was appointed to be responsible for trunk road maintenance; whether it is satisfied with the performance of BEAR Scotland Ltd to date; what action it has taken to ensure that BEAR Scotland Ltd fulfils its contractual obligations, and whether the division of responsibility for trunk roads and non-trunk roads between BEAR Scotland Ltd and the relevant local authority is effective.

Lewis Macdonald: Scottish minister were obliged to follow EU procurement rules in appointing trunk road maintenance operator, and to avoid contracts on the basis of the most economically advantageous tenders, subject to bidders being able to demonstrate a proven track record in road management and maintenance.

  BEAR Scotland Ltd was appointed trunk road operating company for the North East and North West Units following the tender competition where BEAR was assessed as submitting the most economically advantageous tenders for both Units. Prior to tender invitation the companies who make up BEAR Scotland Ltd were able to demonstrate that they have a proven track record of providing road management and maintenance services, including winter maintenance.

  The Scottish Executive employs the Performance Audit Group (PAG) to audit and monitor the activities and performance of BEAR to ensure the standards required by the trunk road contract are achieved. To date there is no evidence to suggest that the level of service has dropped since BEAR took over the contract. The current trunk road maintenance contracts specify the same level of service as in previous years.

  The level of service provided on non-trunk roads is a matter for the relevant local authorities. I have received no invitation to attend a public meeting as described, nor do I have any plans to do so.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from the police in respect of any defective road surface on the A82 south of Inverarnan and, if so, when such representations were received.

Lewis Macdonald: No representations from the police have been received by the Scottish Executive concerning the condition of the road surface on the A82 south of Inverarnan.

Roads

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the collection of litter on the A701 trunk road between Dumfries and Moffat.

Lewis Macdonald: The A701 trunk road runs from Dumfries to its junction with the A74(M). The A701 from the A74(M) junction to Moffat is a local road network.

  Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, responsibility for litter clearance from the A701 trunk road rests with the local council through whose area the trunk road passes, namely Dumfries and Galloway Council. However, the trunk road maintenance contracts contain a provision which requires the Operating Company to liaise with the local council to ensure that the council’s policies meet with the requirements of the relevant sections of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 with respect to trunk roads.

Roads

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the trunk roads maintenance contracts with (a) BEAR Scotland Ltd, (b) Amey Highways Ltd and (c) Autolink Concessionaires Ltd are being evaluated.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive employs the Performance Audit Group to undertake audits and investigations of BEAR Scotland Ltd and Amey Highways Ltd to evaluate their performances against the requirements of the trunk roads maintenance contracts.

  The contract with Autolink Concessionaires (M6) plc is evaluated by Scott Wilson Scotland Ltd who act as the Scottish Ministers’ Agent for the M6 DBFO and monitor, inspect and review the performance of Autolink against the requirements of the DBFO contract.

Roads

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15440 by Sarah Boyack on 11 May 2001, whether it will give a breakdown of the £3 million "other public/private sector funding" towards the M74 northern extension between Parkhead and the Kingston Bridge, detailing who the parties involved are.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18394 on 5 October 2001. It is too early to provide a breakdown of contributions or details of the parties involved.

School Meals

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to extend eligibility for free school meals and clothing grants to claimants of the Disability Living Allowance.

Nicol Stephen: We have no such plans.

Scottish Executive Publications

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the full costs were of printing, publishing and distributing its Scottish Economic Report: January 2002.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The total cost of printing, publishing and distributing the Scottish Economic Report, January 2002 , is estimated at £11,730.

Scottish Textile Forum

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times, and on what dates, the Scottish Textile Forum has met since January 2001; what specific items were discussed at each meeting and when it next intends to meet.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The full forum last met in January 2001. Since then the subcommittees have met at least three times each. The next meeting of the full forum is planned for 4 March 2002 at Cardonald College, Glasgow.

Scottish Textile Forum

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what sub-groups have been set up by the Scottish Textile Forum; how many times any such sub-groups have met and what specific items were discussed at any such meetings.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Each of the four sub-groups (weaving, apparel, knitting & technical textiles) have met three times and discussed various issues, including training, recruitment, the industry image, branding and the setting up of initiatives to tackle these issues.

Scottish Textile Forum

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Scottish Textile Forum since its inception.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Much progress has been made since the Scottish Textile Forum set up a three-year Action Plan in January 2001. So far the forum has developed several initiatives to tackle key issues including: recruitment into the sector, training in the workplace, branding/marketing assistance, and a project to ensure that good news stories on the industry are placed in the news media.

Speed Cameras

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a pilot scheme, similar to the one in England, whereby speed cameras are painted yellow to make them more visible to motorists thereby encouraging them to reduce their speed.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive agrees with the proposals to make speed cameras more conspicuous. Discussions are taking place with the police and other interested parties to determine how best this should be done.

Sport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Sport for Life scheme operates in Scotland and, if so, through what mechanism the scheme operates, what the eligibility criteria are and how many awards have been made and how much was awarded in each instance since 1997.

Dr Elaine Murray: Sport for Life is not currently in operation in Scotland. The scheme is a distance learning course funded by the Learning and Skills Council and open to anyone over 16, leading to an accredited qualification. Its introduction in Scotland would be a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority, although I understand that at present they have no plans to introduce the course.

Textile Industry

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to attract more young people into the textile industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Behind the Label is a programme to allow young people to get a better understanding of the textile sector. This has been operating successfully in the Borders for the last two years. Textile companies are also part of this year’s Make it in Scotland extended pilot in Ayrshire, Glasgow and Angus which promotes manufacturing to S2 pupils.

Textile Industry

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, whether the textile champions announced on 12 June 2000 are still being utilised and, if they are, what functions or events in (a) Scotland and (b) abroad have been attended by them since their inception.

Ms Wendy Alexander: To date, two champions helped us at the launch of the Scottish Textiles Forum last year, and two have attended textile promotion functions at Dover House. Several of them have achieved positive press coverage about textiles.

Textile Industry

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing a generic labelling initiative for Scottish textiles.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This was discussed with the industry, but was seen as less important than other priorities, such as the industry’s image, attracting young people into the industry and training issues.

Textile Industry

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which textile companies have (a) applied for and (b) been granted Regional Selective Assistance.

Ms Wendy Alexander: It is not the department’s practice to provide details of all grant applications received. However, details of all Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) offers involving grant of over £75,000 are published in the Office of National Statistics’ quarterly Labour Market Trends after the first payment of grant has been made. This publication is held in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  Since 1 July 1999 the Scottish Executive has made 14 offers under the RSA and Invest for Growth schemes to companies in the textile sector. The assistance offered amounted to £4,706,400 and was in respect of projects planned to safeguard 719 and create 81 jobs.

  Of the 14 offers referred to above, two companies, Stoddard International Plc and Peter Greig & Co Ltd, have received offers of RSA for amounts over £75,000 and have also been paid the first instalment of grant. Details of their grant offers have therefore been published.

Textile Industry

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback has been received from the pilot project in Ayrshire aimed at improving the image of textiles and what progress has been made on the development of this project.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A pilot of the Make it in Scotland project to raise the image of manufacturing amongst S2 pupils was carried out in East Ayrshire last year. The experience gained last year has allowed the project to be extended this year to the whole of Ayrshire, Glasgow and Angus. Scottish textile companies are actively involved in this.

Textile Industry

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £10 million aid package announced by Her Majesty’s Government on 6 June 2000 has been spent in Scotland and on what it has been spent.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The amount announced by Stephen Byers and Margaret Hodge on 6 June 2000 was £15 million. This announcement also covered the initial 12-point action plan for the UK textiles and clothing industry. The action plan was issued in response to recommendations made by the Textile and Clothing Strategy Group in their document A National Strategy for Textiles and Clothing .

  I understand that the UK Government has invested in capital investment, export support, technical development, research, skills development and training for the textile and clothing sector. However, a separate figure for expenditure in Scotland is not available, as it is not ring-fenced separately.

Water

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisation is responsible for dredging the River Clyde and what charges are levied by that organisation on users of the river.

Lewis Macdonald: Clydeport, as harbour authority, has powers to dredge the River Clyde within the areas of its jurisdiction under the Clyde Port Authority Confirmation Act 1965. Clydeport may also charge under that act for any services or facilities it provides.

Young People

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secure accommodation units for young people there currently are, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: The following table shows the number of Scotland’s secure accommodation units, the number of places within them and where they are located.

  Secure Accommodation for Children in Scotland, 2001:

  


Secure Unit 
  

Managing Council/Organisation 
  

Secure Places 
  



Rossie School
Montrose
ANGUS DD10 9TW 
  

Independent 
  

25 
  



St Mary’s Kenmure
Bishopbriggs
GLASGOW G64 2EH 
  

Independent 
  

30 
  



Kerelaw School
Kerelaw Road
STEVENSTON
Ayrshire KA20 4JY 
  

Glasgow 
  

24 
  



Howdenhall 
39 Howdenhall Road
EDINBURGH 
EH16 6TY 
  

Edinburgh 
  

5 
  



St Katherine’s Centre - Guthrie Unit
29B Balmwell Terrace
EDINBURGH 
EH16 6PS 
  

Edinburgh 
  

7
(inc 1 emergency bed) 
  



The Elms Secure Unit
Elm Court
317 South Road DUNDEE 
  

Dundee 
  

4
(inc 1 emergency bed) 
  


 

Total 
  

95

Youth Crime

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what offences were committed by eight- to 12-year-olds in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: Since 1996, statistics relating to the children’s hearings system have been a matter for the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA). Recent national statistics are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 18780).

  Previously, The Scottish Office collected the statistics. The information is not available in the format requested. Available information is:

  


Year 
  

Total children aged
8-12 referred to reporter on offence grounds 
  

Total offences for which referred 
  



1995 
  

3,411 
  

8,103 
  



1994 
  

3,276 
  

7,759 
  



1993 
  

3,036 
  

7,097 
  



1992 
  

3,16 
  

7,797 
  



1991 
  

3,380 
  

8429